KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 48. N:0 g, 95 



Cricetomys gambianus kenyensis Osgood. 



Osgood: Pield Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. Ser. Vol. X, n:o 2 1910., p. 9. 



Two specimens of this Gicant Rat were trapped in the primeval forest on the 

 slopes of Kenia, the first near Kitwai river one days march from Embu boma ^'/i, 

 the other one days march further north. The skull measurements of the somewhat 

 larger male specimen agree quite well with those of the type (1. c.) which also was 

 a male obtained from the southern side of Kenia. The female is a little smaller, 

 although its teeth are more worn and indicate a more advanced age. It was caught 

 in a hollow log. 



Lophuromys aquilus zena (Dollman). 



Teue: Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. XV, 1892, p. 460. 

 Dollman: Ann, & Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 8, Vol. IV 1909, p. 550. 



This easily recognizable rat was collected in eighteen specimens at the following 

 localities: Escarpment, »8,000 feet»; Kenia, 2,700 m.; Kenia, 2,500 m.; Kenia, 2,450 

 m.; in shambas not far from Embu boma 2,000 m.; at Embu boma; at Kutu south 

 of Embu boma; at Meru boma »about 5,300 feet», and somewhat south of the last 

 place. It was trapped as well high up on Kenia at an open place in the bamboo- 

 region at an altitude of 2,700 m. where the climate was rather harsh, ^ as lower down 

 in the cultivated region. It does not seem, however, to descend to the real low and 

 hot country. 



A remai^kable fact is that such a great number of specimens of this kind have 

 mutilated tails, viz. 7 out of 18. Of these 4 are entirely without tail, and in 3 the 

 distal portion of the tail is missing. In all seven this had happened before the ani- 

 mal was trapped so that the wound was entirely healed. It may also be remembered 

 in this connection that Tetje's type specimen had the tail somewhat mutilated, and 

 the only specimen collected by Sjostedt had the tail multilated as well. This pro- 

 ves that it is quite a common occurrence in this species that its tail is lost entirely 

 or partly. It is evident that this might be caused either by foes of other kinds, or 

 when the animals fight with members of their own species. The latter appears perhaps 

 less probable, partly because males and females have lost their tails in nearly equal 

 number and partly because the tail must be lost when the rat is pursued, not when 

 it is fighting. It appears thus more probable that the tail is lost to a pursuing foe 

 of some kind. It is also evident that this partial loss must be of considerable import- 

 ance to the species as such a great percentage of specimens survive in a mutila* 

 ted state. In spite of the fact that the lost parts do not appear to be reproduced 

 in this case, it is evidently a kind of autotomy that takes place to the benefit of the 

 sjgecies. 



1 + 1,5° C. was observed in the evening and + 2 C° in the morning at sunrise. 

 * L. 0. and Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist, ser 8, Vol. VH, p. 529. 



